poll

1(alsoopinion poll)[countable]the process of questioning people who are representative of a larger group in order to get information about the general opinionsynonymsurveyto carry out/conduct a pollA recent poll suggests some surprising changes in public opinion.A nationwide poll revealed different food preferences in the North and the South.

2the polls[plural](politics)places where people go to vote in an electionTheir defeat at the polls came as a big shock.Tuesday is the day America goes to the polls(= when elections are held).Polls close (= voting ends) at 9 p.m.

3[countable,usually plural]the number of votes recorded in an electionsynonymballotDavis is ahead in the polls.see alsoexit poll,straw poll